After Israeli FM Eli Cohen Meets With Libyan Counterpart, She Is Suspended And Flees To Turkey

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Less than a day after Israel announced a dramatic meeting in Rome between Foreign Minister Eli Cohen and Libyan Foreign Minister Najlla Mangoush, the Libyan minister has paid the price for her apparent indiscretion.

The Libyan National Unity Government’s Prime Minister Abd al-Hamid al-Dabaiba suspended Mangoush over last week’s meeting, despite the Libyan foreign ministry labelling it “unofficial and unplanned.”

Mangoush is being investigated and has been placed on “administrative suspension.” According to al-Wasat newspaper, she left the country on a private jet two hours after her suspension and headed to Turkey.

“What happened in Rome was a chance and unofficial encounter, during a meeting with her Italian counterpart, which did not involve any discussion, agreement or consultation,” Libya’s foreign ministry said.

Mangoush, the ministry said, “refused to meet with any party” representing the Jewish state, while stressing “in a clear and unambiguous manner Libya’s position regarding the Palestinian cause.”

The news of the meeting brought protesters out into the streets of Libya, during which Israeli flags were burned, and there were chants in solidarity with the Palestinians.

Israeli foreign ministry officials fended off criticism over the publication of the meeting, insisting that the meeting had been coordinated at the highest echelons and was supposed to be publicized. They added that the Libyan government has a vested interest in maintaining ties with Israel which can help promote its relations with the Western world.

Israeli foreign minister Eli Cohen hailed the meeting with his Libyan counterpart, stating that “The historic meeting with the Foreign Minister of Libya, Najla Mangoush, is the first step in the relationship between Israel and Libya. The size and strategic location of Libya give ties with it enormous importance and enormous potential for the State of Israel,” Cohen said in a press release.

He added that “I spoke with the foreign minister about the great potential for our countries with such ties, as well as the importance of preserving the heritage of Libyan Jewry, including renovating synagogues and Jewish cemeteries in the country.

“We are working with a series of countries in the Middle East, Africa and Asia with the aim of expanding the circle of peace and normalization of Israel.”

Cohen thanked Italian foreign minister Antonio Tajani for helping to arrange and host the meeting.

Libya does not have diplomatic relations with Israel, although there has been economic cooperation between the countries. The son of General Khalifa Haftar, who is considered the strongest man in the fragmented country, visited Israel secretly in 2021 and offered to establish relations in return for security and intelligence assistance. Currently the law in Libya proscribes any relations with Israel with a penalty of up to 9 years in prison.